The improbable pile on Ceres is a split - inflect beast that would be at home in Alaska . research it , and the still - cryptic livid spot in Occator Crater in the latest flyover aliveness of the gnome planet .
Ceres is the largest objective — gnome major planet , asteroid , or other — lingering in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter . With the observations taken since the Dawn ballistic capsule swung into position this spring , researchers have elaborate size of it estimation to 940 kilometers ( 584 mi ) diam , somewhat littler than the previous estimate of 950 kilometers ( 590 miles ) .
A worldwide digital terrain mannikin of Ceres let in Occator Crater ; the unnamed mountain is southeasterly ( 11 degree to the south , 316 degree eastward ) . range credit entry : NASA / JPL - Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA / PSI .
The Dawn spacecraft keeps nudge closer to Ceres . The probe iscurrently spiral to within 1,500 kilometers ( 900 miles ) altitude over the dwarf planet , three times close than its previous orbit . scientific discipline observations are ask to resume in mid - August . Until then , scientists are pouring over the exist data and bring forth detailed digital terrain model to well understand its topography .
An nameless muckle on Ceres seen from an EL of 4,400 kilometers ( 2,700 geographical mile ) at a resolution of 410 meters ( 1,400 foot ) per pixel on June 25 , 2015 . double credit : NASA / JPL - Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA / LPI
Of the odd features on the miniature creation , the science team is particularly intrigued by a series of enormous volcanic crater in the southern hemisphere : Kerwan just south of the equator , and Urvara and Yalode farther south at the center of a internet of radiating cracks . But the most obvious feature driving perplexity and wonder are the unearthly white patch ( most noticablythe spatter of spots in Occator Craterin the northern hemisphere ) and a currently - unidentified , extremely tall obscure mountain .
An unnamed mountain on Ceres digital terrain model at 5x vertical exaggeration ; the slew is 6 kilometre ( 4 miles ) high . Image credit : NASA / JPL - Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA / LPI
Thiscurrently - unnamed mountain on Ceresis 6 kilometers ( 4 miles ) marvelous , slightly taller than the original estimate of 5 kilometers ( 3 miles ) andpossibly the tallest feature film on the nanus planet . This makes it roughly the same height as Mount McKinley in Alaska ’s Denali reach , the marvelous peak in North America . The mountain has a two - toned surface : this side is coat in bright run , while the far side is thudding and dark . It ’s also funny in that it ’s suffer all alone : it is n’t a crater ’s central peak , or in a range or rooftree of interchangeable stack . Whileit is n’t entirely unheard of for a tidy sum to be in closing off , it ’s strange enough to result the science team pose over what bechance to create this Great Pyramid - determine peak .
Occator Crater digital terrain model at 5x vertical exaggeration ; the volcanic crater is 4 kilometers ( 2 miles ) deep and 90 kilometers ( 60 sea mile ) across . Image recognition : NASA / JPL - Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA / LPI
Occator Crater is 90 kilometers ( 60 mi ) across and 4 kilometers ( 2 miles ) recondite . Fitting Ceres ’ farming deity theme fornaming placement , the volcanic crater is named for a Roman god of harrowing , a proficiency for pulverise and smoothing ground . More significantly , the crater is home tothe mysterious bloodless spots of passing high-pitched albedo that have been puzzling us for months . Are they water internal-combustion engine , salt deposits , strangely glistening rock , or evidence of volcanism or geyser ? While water ice was a popular former guess , how the area reflection lights of unlike wavelengths is n’t what we ’d wait from surface glass , producing a low ( duller ) albedo . Adding to the mystery story , the spots may be producing an afternoon fog half - obscuring the volcanic crater on a reoccurring basis . We ’ll find out what ’s last on enough as Dawn creeps closer to survey the region with a mass spectrometer , pinning down the opus of the odd splotches .
you could do a narrated flyby of these feature , and if you have a pair of 3D glasses , even peek at the earth in three dimensions in the latest telecasting from the Dawn team . The digital terrain manikin are at five time vertical overstatement to emphasize backup man and foreground otherwise - subtle topographical features :
The Dawn spacecraft is the first probe visita dwarf major planet , and the first to gossip two objects within the chief asteroid belt ammunition . Itsurveyed Vesta in 2011 and 2012before using its ion drive toredirect to Ceres .
Top image : twist around a digital terrain role model of the marvelous mountain on Ceres at 5x erect magnification . deferred payment : NASA / JPL - Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA / LPI / Mika McKinnon
see out similar flyover animations of Pluto from the New Horizons flybyhereandhere .
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